So you want to be in a rock & roll band? Plan on spending lots of time in a van traversing the continent. Park, Springfield’s up-and-coming modern rock group, has logged about 60,000 miles in the last year, playing some 100-plus shows in 34 states, in an attempt to spark interest in their music. The […]
Tom Irwin
Tom Irwin, a sixth-generation Sangamon County resident, has played his songs and music for nearly 40 years in the central Illinois area with occasional forays across the country. He's contributed to Illinois Times since 2000 by writing Now Playing, a weekly music column, as well as features stories and other articles. He resides on the Irwin family farm in rural Pleasant Plains.
Posted inMusic
Now Playing 11-20-03
Shake a leg, folks, the Springfield nightlife is up and running. You’d better get a move on if you’re going to catch it. Frank Trompeter, Springfield’s popular saxophonist, leader of funk/pop/dance band elevator shoe, and man behind the curtain of the Innovators New Music Series, is striving to bring you the finest in avant-garde improvisational […]
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Now Playing 11-13-03
What do you want for the middle of November? Everything — at once? Okay, not a problem. Kick off your week with one of the best. It’s our gal pal, the Rockabilly Filly, the San Antonio Rose herself, Rosie Flores, on stage Thursday at the Underground City Tavern. Rosie recently released a solo acoustic CD […]
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Now Playing 11-6-03
Howdy friends and neighbors. Come on in and take a gander. Hope you see something you like. “There is no ‘alt’ in my country,” claims Thad Cockrell, a young country crooner from North Carolina. With two albums produced by the highly-praised and little-known musician, Chris Stamey, and backed by plenty of critical acclaim, the picker […]
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Now Playing 10-30-03
Don’t scare easily, you say? How terrifying is this — Halloween falls on a Friday night. That means every pub, bar, nightclub, thirst parlor, watering hole, tavern, saloon, juke joint, and any other legal libation station will be throwing a Halloween party. Most of them include costume contests with prizes ranging from promotional T-shirts to […]
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Ride easy and keep a horse saddled
Saddle up, pardners, let’s go for a ride through the wild, wild, world of Springfield saloons and see what kind of excitement we can muster. Frank Trompeterand elevator shoe, joined by one of our finest female vocalists, Trina Madonia, saunter into Floyd’s Thirst Parlor, Thursday night for an 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. show. The […]
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Huelyn Duvall can’t stop rockin’
Huelyn Duvall is not a household name, but almost everyone has probably heard him shout “Tequila” at the end of the famed instrumental song by the Champs. At the time of the seemingly inconsequential holler, Duvall was signed, recorded, and poised to be a rockabilly star on his own. As chance would have it, “Tequila” […]
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From cool jazz to hot funk, things are shaking this weekend
Heads up, participants in Springfield’s nightlife, there is music falling all around you. See if you can catch some of it. On Friday, Rachael Lee fires up her Quartet for a show at the Lime Street Café from 9 p.m. to midnight. Lee, a staple of the jazz scene for many years, has been keeping […]
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Now Playing 10-9-03
Hop on board. Let’s take a little trip on the nightlife train. All stops guaranteed to blow your mind — or at least tickle it a bit. Robbie’s Uptown Friday Night has been a raging success for many years in the right-after-work happy hour category. This week performing pianist Ed Clark brings in his quartet […]
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Now Playing 10-2-03
Hello in there. How’s it going? Wonderful. What’s new and exciting in the Springfield nightlife? Let’s take a look. The Underground City Tavern proves why it was voted the best live music venue in town, as Brian and the crew come up with another impressive lineup this week. On Thursday, the Bastard Sons of Johnny […]
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Now Playing 9-25-03
Hey, time travelers, come “get your kicks on what’s left of 66” (a nod to Jason Eklund) this weekend in lovely downtown Springfield, but don’t forget to meander around to other highly anticipated events that are making music history in the capital city even as you read these words. Sounds like big talk? Tell me […]
Posted inNews
Come to Mother
Welcome, Springfieldites, to the second annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival, held on the downtown streets of our fair city Friday through Sunday. You’ll see hundreds of automobiles from days gone by, roving street entertainers, live music on five stages, plus food vendors, kids’ activities, and various exhibits with a Route 66 theme. Tonight […]
